A US military F-18 fighter jet has crashed into a residential area of San Diego, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said.
A US military F-18 fighter jet has crashed into a residential area of San Diego, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said.
The San Diego Fire Department described the scene of the crash as "a heavily-populated area" near the 805 freeway.
The San Diego Fire Department described the scene of the crash as "a heavily populated area" near Interstate 805.
TV footage showed plumes of white smoke rising from several houses. It is not clear if there are any casualties.
TV footage showed plumes of white smoke rising from several houses. It is not clear if there are any casualties.
The jet crashed as it prepared to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the pilot had ejected, the FAA said.
The jet crashed as it prepared to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the pilot had ejected, the FAA said.
The crash occurred two miles (3.2km) from the base, it added.
The crash occurred two miles (3.2km) from the base, it added.
One local resident, Scott Patterson, said he had seen "two big bangs".
Donny James, who was visiting his mother in the area, said the supersonic fighter had been flying at very low altitude.
"The smoke came up. We don't know what it was," he told KNX radio.
Both houses were totally engulfed in flames... I saw one pilots walking around and he was dazed Donny James, witness
The F-18 is a supersonic fighter used widely by the US Marine Corps and Navy.
"It spiralled out of control, just like out of Top Gun, and then it came down," he told CNN.
Mr James said he was unable to get closer to the scene because two houses were on fire.
"Both houses were totally engulfed in flames. I saw a pilot walking around and he was dazed. The police were telling everyone to get out of the way," he added.
A spokesman for the San Diego police department, Monica Munoz, said it appeared so far that the only person injured was the pilot.
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